Curtain-stretcher



(No Model.)

f L. E. LAFPERTY.

CURTAIN STRBTGHER.

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Y Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of UNITED STATESI PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS E. LAFFERTY, OF ALLEGHENY CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

CURTAIN-STRETCH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,305, dated December1, 1885.

Application led June 29, 1885. Serial No. 170,166. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs E. LAFFERTY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Allegheny City, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented ce1'- tain new and useful Improvements inCurtain-Stretchers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters andligures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

In the drawings, Figure'l is a plan view of the stretcher. Fig. 2 is avertical section in a plane indicated by the line 2 2 in Fig. l. theclamps, and Fig. 4 is-a section in the line 4 4.

The stretchingframe is composed of two long sections, A A, and two shortsections, B B. Eachlong section A is preferably divided into two parts,hinged together at c, so that the stretcher may be folded morecompactly.

Each of the four sections is composed of a long' strip, b, which isrigidly secured at one end to a bottom strip, c, and of a short block,d, secured also to the bottom strip. The space e between the block d andstrip b is equal to the width of the strips b, and this Space on eachsection forms a guide or way,in which slides the long strip b of one ofthe other sections.

In putting the stretchingfframe together the strip b of each ofthe longsections A slides in the space or way e of one of the short sections B,and the strips b of each of the short sections slides in the way e ofone of the long sections. By this arrangement the short and longsections may be moved toward and from each other in parallel directions,t-hus in all cases maintaining the rect angularity of the frame. Eachstrip b of each section is provided on its upper side with a series ofstretching-pins, f f, throughout its length. The strips b b and`blocks dd being of the same thickness, when the strips are placed in theirrespective ways e, resting on the strips c, the upper surfaces of thestrips b b, on which the pins f f are placed, are all in the samehorizontal plane,which insures the even and smooth stretching of thecurtain or other fabric.

Connecting the upper surfaces of each strip b and block d is a metallicband, C, secured rigidly to both. These metallic bands constitutetheguides on the upper side of space e, and prevent the section fromupward displacement. These bands C are formed with an arch, g, extendingupwardly over the center of each space e, under which the pins f f pass.

To permit the hinges c of the jointed sections to pass through the spacec, the strips c of the short sections are recessed at h on their uppersurfaces, as shown in Fig. 4.

Vhen the frame has been adjusted to the desired position, it is heldrigidly by screws D D, which pass through the blocks d d and pressagainst the sides of the sections.

To render the jointed sections more rigid, a cross-bar, E, is used,which is placed beneath the long sections out of the way of the fabric,and is retained in position by clamps F. These clamps are formed of twohorizontal arms, yi 11, connected by a vertical bar, m. The lower arm,z, constitutes one clampingsurface, and a screw, s, passing through theupper arm,provides the second clamping-surface.

Iolaim as my invention- In a curtain-stretcher, sliding sections,each ofwhich is composed of a long strip provided i with stretching-pins on itsupper surface, a

bottom strip, to which one endl of said long strip is secured, and ablock secured to said bottom strip, substantially as set forth,where bya guide-space is formed above said bottom strip between said block andlong strip, in combination with guidebands secured at opposite ends tothe upper surfaces of said blocks and long strips across saidguide-space, said guide-band being arched above the center of saidspace, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS E. LAFFERTY. Witnesses:

D. MoKELvnY, H. L. BEVER.

